Fred Ellis, Asst. Fire Management Officer

Fred Ellis serves as a key procurement lead within the Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the U.S. Forest Service, overseeing contract actions that advance ecological restoration, wildfire mitigation, and infrastructure resilience across federal forest lands. He manages a portfolio of acquisitions aligned with the agency’s mission to sustain healthy forest ecosystems, with a primary focus on support activities for forestry operations and specialized transportation equipment. His work ensures timely delivery of critical services and equipment necessary for field operations, including prescribed burning support, reforestation logistics, and watershed protection initiatives. Ellis operates within the broader framework of USDA procurement policy, emphasizing compliance, transparency, and mission-driven outcomes. His contractor relationships center on small businesses and specialized vendors capable of delivering niche forestry support services and ruggedized transportation solutions tailored to remote, high-risk environments. He consistently partners with firms experienced in wildland fire response logistics, forest inventory systems, and equipment maintenance for off-road terrain. While no single contractors dominate his portfolio, his pattern reflects a preference for agile, regionally rooted vendors with proven field capabilities and environmental compliance expertise. Ellis maintains a 100% small business set-aside preference under FAR 19.5, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to socioeconomic contracting. He actively prioritizes participation from HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs), and other small disadvantaged firms, ensuring equitable access to federal opportunities while strengthening local economic resilience in rural communities across the Rocky Mountain region. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing contract services such as timber stand improvement, fuel reduction, and ecological monitoring. He also procures under NAICS 336999 (All Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing), acquiring custom-built vehicles and equipment designed for rugged forestry operations, including all-terrain utility vehicles and fire suppression transport systems. His technical domain expertise spans land stewardship logistics, environmental compliance, and mission-critical equipment procurement for federal land management.